Cystitis diagnosis - help!
We've been back to the vet this morning as her bum was so swollen and ulcerated that she needed help to expel her poop :( :( :(
Vet has suggested propanolamine, which is not something she's given to guinea pigs before (although she has to rabbits) - apparently a dog specific medication that helps restrict urine leaking. Her sense is that we need to stop the urine leaking out to prevent this level of pain. If the meds don't work, she said that "we will need to have a conversation"... She said antibiotics wouldn't help as the sulfradine cream is doing that job (and the ulceration is miraculously not infected) so I've obviously been doing well at keeping her clean. She's on a 0.8ml dose of 0.5mg/ml metacam once a day (which I know is high, especially as she only weighs 845g poor skinny girl), vet said I could do it twice a day and that there was another painkiller we could also add (gabapentin maybe?).
Hawkes is still super lively and energetic, eating loads, albeit her tummy is very bald from barbering and obviously her bum is very sore. I have no clue what to do. It feels wrong to put down a guinea pig just because her bum is sore???
@Lynx I've sent Monday's pic... Pretty gross.
Vet has suggested propanolamine, which is not something she's given to guinea pigs before (although she has to rabbits) - apparently a dog specific medication that helps restrict urine leaking. Her sense is that we need to stop the urine leaking out to prevent this level of pain. If the meds don't work, she said that "we will need to have a conversation"... She said antibiotics wouldn't help as the sulfradine cream is doing that job (and the ulceration is miraculously not infected) so I've obviously been doing well at keeping her clean. She's on a 0.8ml dose of 0.5mg/ml metacam once a day (which I know is high, especially as she only weighs 845g poor skinny girl), vet said I could do it twice a day and that there was another painkiller we could also add (gabapentin maybe?).
Hawkes is still super lively and energetic, eating loads, albeit her tummy is very bald from barbering and obviously her bum is very sore. I have no clue what to do. It feels wrong to put down a guinea pig just because her bum is sore???
@Lynx I've sent Monday's pic... Pretty gross.
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
In rereading this page, it looks like she has not been given oral antibiotics. I can't help but think it would be wise to try an oral antibiotic like trimethoprim sulfamethoxizole which is generally well tolerated to see if it makes any sort of difference). Is she still on metacam? (pain medication)
I noticed some years back that giving oral antibiotics, the antibiotic seemed to pass through the urine and had the effect of making an odorous bum much better smelling (do you notice any odor right now?).
I hate the thought she is in so much pain too.
I noticed some years back that giving oral antibiotics, the antibiotic seemed to pass through the urine and had the effect of making an odorous bum much better smelling (do you notice any odor right now?).
I hate the thought she is in so much pain too.
Sadly Hawkes ran over the rainbow bridge in Monday (26 Sept). I'm still not sure if I did the right thing but she was in such pain and I couldn't help her. Her sister is doing well and not pining, I'm aware that she'll be better living with another piggy but I'm not making any decisions just yet. I asked for her ashes in an individual cremation and will have a memorial for her. The best piggy, out of pain.